Open the box and take out the band-aid. This is used when you get hurt. It helps to protect your “owie” until it heals. Do you feel thankful when you need a band-aid and someone puts one on you? (Allow the kids to tell their stories of getting hurt and a band-aid being put on them.)

2.Bible Story: The Ten Lepers, Luke 17

Supplies: 10 building blocks or action figures

Today’s Bible story is about someone who chose to be thankful even when those around him were not thankful.

One day Jesus was entering a village. There were ten lepers that stood far away from Him. A person who is a leper has a disease that changes their skin. Leprosy was a terrible disease to have. In Jesus’ time, those who had this disease had to stay away from those who did not have it. It was lonely way to live.

Let’s line up 10 (blocks, action figures) and pretend these are the lepers.

The ten lepers started crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus looked at them. He said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

They did as he told them. And as they went on their way, their leprosy went away. Their skin was good as new. They were healed!

Let’s turn the lepers around and have them go to the priest. Can you help me?

But one leper stopped when he saw he was healed. He turned around and came back to Jesus.

(Take one leper and have him turn around and come back.)

He shouted, “Praise God!” Can you say that with me?

He feel to the ground right at Jesus’ feet and thanked him for what He had done for him.

Jesus said, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?”

Jesus then said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Which man was thankful for what Jesus had done? (The one that came back.) Why do you think the others did not come back and thank Jesus? (They were too concerned about the good thing that had happened to them, they forgot about Jesus, they were not grateful.)

Let’s make the choice to be thankful. We can be thankful to Jesus for loving us.

3. Prayer

Thank Jesus for each child and for loving them. Allow individual children to say a prayer of thanks.

4. Circle Time:

Have the children sit in a circle. Go around the circle and ask each child what he/she is thankful for.

5. Bible Memory Verse:

Give thanks in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

Have the children repeat the verse after you.

What does it mean “in all circumstances?” That means always. For instance, it means being thankful when someone gives you a cookie even if it is not your favorite kind.

Let’s do motions with this verse to help us learn it.

Give (hold out hand as if giving something to someone)

Thanks (fold hands in prayer)

In all circumstances (hold out arms with palms up and sweep to the side to show the idea of all)

6. Game: Thankful Tag

Play tag. When tagged, each child must say something he/she is thankful for.

7. Craft: Thankful Turkey Hands

Supplies: Crayons, paper

Trace each child’s hand with the crayon. Write what they are thankful for on each of the fingers. Draw a turkey face on the thumb. Finish coloring.

Imagine opening up this blog every day in December and a fun, easy and creative idea pops out at you. Ideas that sometimes are meaningful, sometimes are just silly and sometimes make you think in a different way. Ideas that might be pinterest worthy and others that might keep your sanity during a pinterest- saturated season.

Beginning December 1, we will post a creative idea, thought, or mini lesson each day all the way up through December 25. The posts will include fun for both families and kid’s pastors. They will help you keep focus on “Come, Let us Adore Him” and “Joy to the World” instead of “Santa Clause” and the “Elf on the Shelf.’ (Please- I’m not saying anything is wrong with those- just making our purpose clear.)

We would love to post some of your ideas. If you have an idea you would like to share with us, please email riversedgechristmas@gmail.com with a picture, the instructions or whatever we need to share the ideas. Please do not email pictures of kids unless you have permission to do so (or they are your kids).

What fun things have you done in the past that have been meaningful? Creative? Sanity saving?